Even though she expected to fall asleep right away, Elyrie stared into the dark for a long time. She was confused, but content. The music night had been a great success and she had sung for the first time in years for a crowd. She grinned to herself in the dark. Zuko had attended as well, not being able to resist her call. She smiled her wicked smile, happy her little plan had worked as she wished. Now they can at least part their way as friends.
Her smile died on her lips when she thought of the impeding parting. For some reason she couldn't explain it felt wrong to leave Zuko. Zuko rarely opened up, he never did actually. He never liked to talk about his hardships, which she knew where many. This night had been a special moment and she was glad he trusted her enough to do so. She remembered how he pulled her closer and how she had let him. For one moment, she felt sixteen again. Her life ahead of her, when she was old enough to have plans for the future but too young to have true responsibilities.
Zuko had been her best friend, even though she had attended the Royal Fire Academy for Girls and he was groomed for his duties as future Fire Lord. Even when both their lives were filled with duties and other obligation, they always found time to see each other.
He often visited her at home with her father. She had lived not far from the Royal Palace in the capital and he visited her as much as he could in his spare time. She always suspected it was his way of escaping from the rigorous protocols and attention at the court. She smiled at the memories of them, sitting in the library and discussing books. Of her and him at the piano, while she sang and he listened. At the dinner table, where they discussed politics with her father.
But that was a long time ago, she knew that. He was a banished prince and she was an engaged woman. She turned to her side and clutched her locket in her hand. Whatever happened a moment ago, it was not who she was anymore. Five years are a long time. They had known each other as children, but time kept moving on. He had become hard and bitter, focused on his mission to restore his honour. He was a good man, she knew it. Even if he insulted the captain, he had risked his own life to help the helmsman. He was a complicated man with a complicated past.
And a complicated future.
She sighed and closed her eyes. He did not need her to further to complicate things in his life. It will be best for everyone if I leave tomorrow, she thought. We need to get back to our normal life. And with that conclusion, she fell asleep.
But she had not been the only one who had difficulty putting the day behind her.
in his room, Zuko turned around for the seventh time in thirty seconds. He twisted in his blankets, tangeling himself. He imagined Elyrie in her bed, a few doors away. Tomorrow she would be out of his life again. He closed his eyes. He still felt her touch on his skin and smelled the scent of her thick auburn curls. He had been angry with her after what she had said about hunting the Avatar. She had been naïve and did not grasp the gravity of his situation. But then, she lured him out of his darkness with her voice. She had sung for him, he knew that.
He rolled over on his side, trying to clear his head. The girl he once knew had become a woman, an engaged one for that matter. But the way she talked to him and comforted him, it was like nothing had changed. She always had been his safe heaven, especially after his mother had disappeared. Unlike most, she actually knew what he was going through. Her mother had died when she was ten years old. She had comforted him and been his confidante for years.
Again, he rolled over to his other side. He could not comprehend what had come over him tonight. She sang her mother's lullaby for him as she played the pipa, so sweet and so beautiful. She seemed so out of reach at that moment, so full of happiness and light.
And he, he had lived in darkness for a long time now. She again had been the small light that brightened up his life once he held her in his arms. She had fitted so well in his arms, as if she was made for him.
But whatever he wanted, it was secondary. He needed to capture the Avatar to restore his honour. That was the most important thing, all other things were secondary. She could not comprehend that his father had send him on this quest with a reason.
He rolled on his back, looking at nothing in the darkness. Her arrival had further complicated his plans. Maybe it is best if she leaves tomorrow, he mused. Back to her fiancé, back to Zhao. The thought made him tighten his jaw. But he shook his head. I can't change a thing until my honour is restored, he decided.
Elyrie felt emptiness as she stood in front of the mirror.
Her hair was pinned up again, out of her face. She wore the red dress with black trimmed lace Uncle had given to her. She looked at her reflection with a strange feeling. The woman who stared back at her from the mirror looked nothing like the girl she felt she had been in the past few days. The woman had the same heartshaped face, the same blue eyes and same auburn curls. But the auburn curls were tied together, not dancing around her. The heartshaped face was serious and poised, not smiling with a blush on her cheeks. The blue eyes looked sad, not glittering with mischief and joy.
She shook her head and turned around to pick up the engagement ring from her nightstand. The gold felt cold in her palm and she let the ring rest there for a few seconds. Then she blinked and straightened her spine.
Time to return to normal, she thought as she let the ring slip onto her left ring finger. It felt strangely intimate, almost as if the ring had become smaller. She felt the weight on her finger like a foreign touch. She turned the ring a few times on her finger, trying to make it feel more comfortable. To no avail.
She heard a small knock on the door.
"Come in." she said as she straightened her dress. Zuko entered in his Fire Nation armour. It does not suit him, Elyrie thought as she studied him in the mirror without turning around. He had dark circles under his eyes, as if he had barely slept. His golden eyes looked dull when he looked at her.
"It is almost noon," he said somewhat harsh, "Time to go." She nodded and turned to pick up the small bundle of clothes. Uncle had gifted her the new clothing and she thankfully accepted it. I can take a small piece with me, she thought to herself
Zuko waited as she finished packing her clothing. Her back was turned to him, but he saw her face in the reflection of the mirror. She looked older, with the red dress accentuating her slim figure and the curls pinned away from her face. She looked like a queen, poised and regal. But she did not look like the light-hearted girl he had become used to. The girl with the loose curls and mischievous look in her sapphire eyes.
She looked different now. Her dark hair was pinned up in a simple updo, which let her long neck free. Her alabaster skin contrasted with the dark burgundy colour of the dress. She pressed her pink lips together as she folded the last piece of clothing with a concentrated look. When she was finished, she met his eyes in the reflection. She arched her dark eyebrow and her piercing eyes met his gaze. She looked mature and elegant, like a noblewoman.
And so beautiful, he thought as he gazed at her.
She looked away from his gaze and turned around.
"I am ready." she simply said as she held the folded bundle of clothing in her arms. Zuko swallowed when he noticed the small scar on the side of her face again. When she wore her hair down, her curls covered the scar for the most part. But now, she did not attempt to hide it. He felt his chest constrict at the memory of her lying wounded in his arms. He shook his head to suppress the memories and motioned for her to proceed him. She walked out of the room without looking at him and made her way outside. He closed the door behind her.
Elyrie squeezed her eyes at the bright sunlight when she entered the deck. It was a beautiful day, without a cloud in the sky. A soft breeze caressed her face as her eyes adjusted to the light. She was surprised at the amount of people on deck. It seemed the whole crew had assembled to see her off. Uncle and Lieutenant Jee stood in front of the crowd, but she also noticed a tall man in Fire Nation armour. He was no part of the crew, but she recognized the kind brown eyes instantly.
"Kun." she said in a warm voice as she shielded her eyes from the sun to look at him, "I am glad to see you."
Kun took a step forward and made a respectful bow.
"Miss Elyrie, we are here to escort you." he said stiffly. She saw three other soldiers wearing Fire Nation armour standing next to the lowered ramp. Kun nodded to a soldier, who approached her to take over the bundle of clothes she held. She gave them with a grateful smile, but she did not fail to notice one person missing from the small group.
Elyrie raised her eyebrows at Kun and - as if he could read her confusion - he quickly added: "Commander Zhao could not attend, as his duties prevented him."
Zuko clenched his fists to his side, fighting the urge to kick Zhao's men off the ship. The arrogant bastard, he mentally cursed. He looked at Elyrie, who had raised her chin but her face revealed nothing.
"I understand." she said in her beautiful voice, "He is an important man and must not be kept from his duties." Zuko did not miss the hint of sarcasm in her tone, but she hid it well. He doubted anyone noticed the tone. He looked at his Uncle, who pensively stroked his grey beard. He heard it too, Zuko thought as he met his Uncle's eyes.
Elyrie walked towards Uncle and grasped his hands.
"I want to thank you for everything you have done for me." she said, holding back her tears. The old man smiled at her and pulled her into a hug.
"I want to thank you as well, for brightening our days with your presence." Despite herself, she felt a smile twist her lips. He always knows just what to say, she thought.
"Thank you." she said as she let go of him. "Keep practicing." he said with a wink as he pinched her cheek softly in a fatherly manner.
She turned to Lieutenant Jee, who stood on the left side of Uncle. She bowed to him as she said "I want to thank you as well, captain, for being so kind to me."
Jee bowed in return and said, "it was a pleasure having you on my ship, Miss."
She looked over the crew who had gathered on deck. "I want to thank all of you for taking such good care of me these past few days." she said with a warm smile as she looked around.
The men nodded at her with smiles. "Just promise you'll sing for us another time!" someone in the back yelled. The men murmured in agreement.
"Next time, I will sing until your hearts break!" she laughed in a jovial tone, although she felt that it was probably an empty promise.
Zuko silently shook his head. Already broken, he thought.
Then, she turned around to look at him. She walked over in a graceful manner, slowly but certain. His golden eyes looked in the sapphire ones.
"And you," she said as she extended her hand, "I don't even know how to thank you for everything that you have done for me." He took her hand and pulled her closer as he embraced her. "I wouldn't be here without you." she whispered as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Zuko said nothing as he let his cheek rest against her head.
She pulled back far too soon for his liking, but held onto his hands. He did not let go of her as he studied her face, his eyes searching every detail. She did the same, trying to remember every detail.
Why are we getting so good at saying goodbye? Zuko mused as he resisted the urge to pull the strict pins that kept her hair in check. At the same moment, she was imagining him without the stoic armour that was everything she had come to detest.
As long as they were together between the walls of the ships, they had kept the rest of the world at bay. But now - with everything and everyone present - they couldn't ignore that they weren't meant to be in each others life anymore.
"Goodbye Lily." he whispered. Elyrie felt her tears pricking in her eyes as those words ripped her heart open for the second time.
Kun cleared his throat, which made Elyrie snap back into the present. She took a breath and released herself from Zuko's grip. She straightened her dress as she turned around with a neutral look on her face.
Iroh noticed the change in her face, as if a mask fell back into place. Talented little actress, he thought as he watched her walk away. He looked over at his nephews face and saw that his emotions were shielded as well. Zuko's face betrayed nothing and his impassive look had returned. If you didn't know any better, you would have assumed they were just two people saying goodbye without any further trouble. Two old friends parting ways without further connections.
"If you are ready, Miss?" Kun asked as he motioned to the lowered ramp. Elyrie looked over and saw a small carriage waiting. She tried to swallow the regret she felt building up in her chest and nodded. She knew she had to leave as soon as possible, otherwise her courage would desert her.
She refused Kun's extended arm and walked the ramp alone down to the waiting carriage. She bit her lip to keep her emotions in control. With every step down, she felt herself fiddle with her engagement ring more and more. Her hands were clasped in front of her as she continued to walk, but her hands seemed to reject the invasion of the ring. With her long nails, she kept ticking at the cold metal. Snap out of it, she reprimanded herself. She continued to chew on her lower lip, but inhaled to calm her racing nerves. The walk seemed endless, but at last her feet touched the solid ground.
She turned around a last time to smile back at Zuko and Uncle, who where standing at the top of the plank. She waved at them before Kun opened the carriage door for her. After one last smile, she climbed in the carriage and sat down in the soft red pillows. She closed her eyes as she rested her head against the soft fabric. When she felt the carriage started to move, she finally let her tears flow freely.
Zuko watched the carriage ride away between the trees. He sighed as he continued to look at the spot where she last smiled at him. He heard her voice in his mind.
Oh, won't you come with me?
Where the moon is made of gold
He closed his eyes and pinched his bridge of his nose. He shook his head to clear his thoughts. She was gone now, so it was time for him to return back to his quest.
Lieutenant Jee approached him. "What are your orders, sir?" he asked tentatively. Zuko turned around and saw his entire crew looking at him.
"Why are you all still standing here?" he roared as he motioned towards the ocean. "We have lost enough time!" The crowd quickly scattered as the crewmen went back to their posts. Iroh approached his nephew and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Prince Zuko, are you sure you want to leave right now?" he asked. Zuko's eyes snapped to his Uncle. "Why would you ask such a stupid question?" he yelled as he pulled away from his Uncle's touch.
Iroh watched Zuko storm off. The softness Elyrie had brought out in him seemed to have dried up the moment she left the ship. Iroh sighed and stroked his beard pensively as his heart went out to his nephew.